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Sunday, March 5, 2017

Bragging Rights Busted

We had a second day of breezy conditions, even though we had a lot of sunshine. The back waters are obviously fishable, it just makes it tough to find fish, especially if you're going to try and stay out of the wind. I met Lou Alvarado down at the Big Talbot Island Park boat ramp and we made the run up the Nassau River and pulled in at some docks to fish the very last of an outgoing tide with jigs and live shrimp. Lou was making excellent casts but the fish were not cooperating. We worked 3-4 docks, pitching to the pilings
and finally we found one that was holding some fish. After one good bite and short fight that ended with the fish throwing the hook, Lou went back to the same spot and after a few casts, he hooked up with a nice feisty Redfish that he worked patiently away from the pilings. We had one more good bite but no more takers so with a strong east wind beginning to blow, we headed down to Broward Island, and boy was it nice. The sun was up and it warming us nicely. We had just a slight breeze to contend with as we worked the bank. There were no real bites until the tide changed and started back in and then, almost like someone thru a switch, the fish began to bite. Lou put a couple of Seatrout in the boat, then a feisty Redfish, then small Flounder that rounded out his Slam. Then we had a gentle bite and BOOM! Fish ON! Lou worked the fish and the longer the battle went the stronger (and bigger) the fish began to get. It just wouldn't come up off the bottom. But Lou kept the pressure on and slowly wore the big fish out and when it came to the surface we saw that it was a huge Red Drum. We got it netted and in the boat and measured it to be 30.5", an Anglers Mark Bragging Rights busting biggest Redfish of the year! (Scroll down right side for standings). Boy what a fish! We continued to work the bank and Lou had another strong bite - this time it was a big Trout out deep. We picked up a couple of more fish -one was another Slot Redfish - then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.